Artemisia Gentileschi's Painting Analysis

Artemisia was one of the first women artists to have an international recognition. However it did not come easy because she was born in a time period when women were not considered equal to men. Being an artist was not something a woman was supposed to do. Although her talent was much greater than most male artists of her era, she was brushed aside just because of her gender. “Gentileschi’s gestures are far more expansive than many contemporary or later self-portraits by male artists of themselves working in oil paint” (Chare, 2009). However, because of her sex she was ignored deliberately. During 16th century male artists were considered to be specialists. Female artists were nothing but insignificant exhibitions. Men were the decision

makers and women were mere tools who will twist and turn at men’s will. Artemisia despised any woman being treated as such and in her painting she took her female subjects and gave them something more. The women she portrayed were more than sex objects. They were strong both physically and mentally. This was possible since Artemisia’s own life was full of cruel life lessons. To understand Artemisia’s role as a feminist we must delve into her personal life.
Artemisia Gentileschi was born in Rome. She was raised by her father Orazio who himself was a painter. She worked in her father’s workshop and was also trained by him. Although her paintings were influenced by her father’s style, they were more naturalistic than her father’s. She showed her uniqueness in her painting from a very early age. At the age of 17 Artemisia painted her first famous painting "Susanna and the Elders".
Artemisia portrays the biblical story of Susanna. Susanna was a pious young female who was sexually harassed by the elders of her community. While Susanna was washing herself the men kept an eye on her. They overcame with lust and desire and they confronted her. They offered her a deal that she could either give in to their lust and lay down with them or they would claim that they saw her lying with another young fellow, committing adultery. Susanna refused which resulted her to get a punishment of death by stoning. However she was exonerated by impeccable mediation and resulted the elder’s execution. Gentileschi has demonstrated her Susanna to be roughly the painter's own particular period of around seventeen. Her skin is soft, pale and bright. No defects or flaws noted. Her musculature is soft and not manly. No wrinkles visible in stomach and it is firm, inconsistent of a mature person.
Artemisia Gentileschi, one of a few female painters of her time, utilized the story to depict the lowly and cunning way of men.

She had a youthful uneasiness drawing this painting. When all other male painters during that time portrayed Susanna as flirtatious, Artemisia looked at her with a female viewpoint and depicted Susanna as helpless and startled. This was her reflection on her own life during the time period about how she felt in the world of men: timid and distressed. However her perspective changed at the age of 19 when she was raped by her teacher who was also her fathers’ coworker: Agostino Tassi. At trial, Tassi humiliated her by saying that she slept with many other men before him. Gentileschi had to go through torture and examination by midwifes of her virginity to prove that her testimony was valid. Tassi further humiliated her by saying that Artemisia was not a skillful artist and did not even understand the laws of perspective. Finally, Tassi was found guilty when a former friend of his testified that Tassi confined to him about his exploits with Artemisia. Soon after trial Artemisia married a painter and moved to Florence, where her paintings flourished. The trial changed Artemisia’s life. She was a victim of the male dominant society and an example of how women were

treated.
This turned her world upside down. The social humiliation pushed her to question her own existence. This shows in her painting “Lucretia” following her rape trial. Lucretia was a character of roman myth who was raped by a fellow soldier and committed suicide to spare her family from dishonor and humiliation.